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In this update:
Voter ID: Time for PA to catch up with other states, nations
A proposed constitutional amendment passed by the Senate earlier this month to require ID verification at polling places remains in the House of Representatives. Its approval is needed to let voters have a say through a ballot question in the spring primary election. Pennsylvania’s failure to enact this key component of election integrity has put it behind not only a vast majority of states and most developed countries, but behind many developing nations as well. Every excuse used to block this rational election reform has been shown to be false. Requiring proof of identification before voting does not suppress turnout, and acceptable IDs are not difficult to obtain. Nationally, the calls for voter ID come from Democrats and Republicans alike. Eighty percent of Americans favor voter ID as do 74% of Pennsylvanians. Now is the time to pass Senate Bill 1 and let the voters decide. Restoring checks and balances in Pennsylvania government
In addition to letting citizens decide whether voters should be required to show ID, Senate Bill 1 includes a proposed constitutional amendment allowing the people’s representatives in the General Assembly to overturn any government regulation that conflicts with the will of the people. The need for this change was made clear by the Wolf administration’s unilateral decisions during the pandemic closing businesses and schools with no input from the people. Despite the clear design of our government with three co-equal parts, the executive branch elevated itself above the legislative and judicial branches in an obvious violation of the checks and balances afforded by the Pennsylvania Constitution. No governor of any party should be permitted to wield such unchecked power again. If the House of Representatives follows the Senate’s lead and passes Senate Bill 1, voters will be empowered to restore this crucial balance of power. Applications for property tax rent rebates available now
Older adults and Pennsylvanians with disabilities can apply now for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2022. The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded. Spouses, personal representatives or estates may also file rebate claims on behalf of claimants who lived at least one day in the claim year and meet all other eligibility criteria. The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. You can find more eligibility and application information here. Eligible applicants can visit mypath.pa.gov to electronically submit their applications. As always, if you need assistance or have any questions on your rebate, please feel free to reach out to my district office at 717-741-4648. Phase-out of job-killing PA tax begins
The phase-out of Pennsylvania’s sky-high Corporate Net Income tax got underway this month, part of our efforts to keep good jobs here and create new ones. Republican lawmakers secured a cut in this job-killing tax as part of the 2022-23 state budget. Before this reduction to 8.99%, Pennsylvania’s CNI tax had been 9.99% for nearly three decades while other states had lower tax rates – some far lower – and many have been lower for almost as long. When gradually reduced to 4.99% in 2031, Pennsylvania’s CNI rate will have gone from one of the highest in the nation to one of the lowest, making the commonwealth far more competitive with other states. A 2009 report by an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City demonstrates that the burden of the corporate income tax is borne in large part by labor within the state in the form of lower wages. A 2016 paper published in the journal American Economic Review found employees shoulder about a third of the corporate tax burden. Reducing this tax will be the difference between jobs coming to our local communities and jobs leaving. This will be a great benefit to Pennsylvania families. Interview with Matt Gabler from PA Forest Products Association
Earlier this month at the PA Farm Show I was able to catch up with an old friend, Matt Gabler, who serves as the executive director of the PA Forest Products Association. He shared with me that York County is second in the state for forest product jobs! If you’re interested, you can watch our conversation about the industry here in York County below:
Celebrating our growing tourism industry
Last week I was able to celebrate York County’s growing tourism economy at Explore York County PA’s 20th Annual Tourism Industry Event at Wyndridge Farm! Keynote Speaker Erik Evian, director of Data Analytics and Insights for Tourism Economics spoke to York County’s tourism industry as a bright spot in a challenging economy and future opportunities and challenges as we face a recession.
Congratulations to Butch and David Potter of Martin’s Potato Chips and Marie Fisher of Nature’s Platter on receiving the Tourism Maker’s Spirit Award! Local organizations can apply now for conservation grants
Counties, municipalities and municipal agencies, pre-qualified land trusts, nonprofits and other eligible organizations can apply now for state conservation, recreation, trail and related grants. Administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Community Conservation Partnerships Program is funded with a variety of state and federal funding sources including Pennsylvania’s natural gas Impact Fee. Applications will be accepted through April 5. Online tutorials are available to aid organizations in the application process. Visit with York County Farm Bureau’s Julie Yahnke-Schrum
York County Farm Bureau’s Julie Yahnke-Schrum stopped into my Capitol office this week while she was in Harrisburg for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Board of Directors meeting. We spoke about the legislative priorities of our local farming community. Julie continues to be an incredible advocate for our farmers! Discovering York County’s recreational sports economy
My staff was able to attend York County Economic Alliance’s January Economics Club breakfast this week focusing on our community’s thriving recreational sports economy. Panelists included Matt DeRose, president of Heritage Hospitality, Bill Kunkel, club manager of Central Penn Sporting Claying & Game Preserve and Eric Menzer, president of York Professional Baseball. It was great to hear how York County is thriving with our outdoor sports and recreation destinations! Johnny Inch, Jr. from Inch & Co. also shared an update about their newest venture, Inch & Co Sports. Their plan currently includes a new indoor recreational facility at the site of the former Central High School sports stadium. You can find more details on that venture here. Fat Bat Brewing’s bike repair ribbon cutting
Yesterday, I was able to attend the ribbon cutting for Fat Bat Brewing’s new bicycle repair station, installed courtesy of a BLOOM grant through the York County Economic Alliance. This will be a great addition to the York County Trail Towns initiative as it is located near the Hanover Trolley Trail and the repair station is open to the public for use. Congratulations to all involved in this project! Lowering the risk of birth defects
Rates of infant deaths due to birth defects have declined by 10% in the United States. However, even today, every 4½ minutes a baby is born with a major problem affecting parts of the body including the heart, brain or foot, causing lifelong health challenges. The National Birth Defects Prevention Network offers women five tips for preventing birth defects:
Not all birth defects can be prevented. However, healthy choices and habits help lower the risk of having a baby born with these challenges. Upcoming PennDOT maintenance projectsYou can view PennDOT’s list of scheduled maintenance projects for next week below.
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